This Pinter Almost Perfect
Soulpepper's Take On Pinter Classic A Treat For The Eyes And The Ears
Harold Pinter, who in 2005 won the Nobel Prize for literature, had his first major success in 1960 with his play The Caretaker.
Forty six years later, the play returns to Toronto, as part of Soulpepper's 2006 season.
Focusing on three characters, The Caretaker centres on Davies, a homeless man who is given shelter by Aston, a young man who saves him from a drunken beating, and Mick, who is Aston's brother. Aston and Mick are total opposites, Aston being the calm and quiet type, and Mick who is blunt and crass. They both offer Davies a job as the caretaker of their home, but after Davies begins to treat Aston with disrespect, he is asked to leave.
Pinter is known for his use of language, as he has his characters speak in incomplete sentences, and at times, you see that the characters not only don't understand what each other is saying, but they are not listening to each other at all.
It takes a while to get used to this kind of dialogue, but it slowly begins to make perfect sense. Instead of focusing on what the characters are saying, we are challenged to focus on why they are saying it and what the words that are spoken mean.
The cast assembled for this production is superb, handling Pinter's language with ease, and each of them turns in a unique and stellar performance.
Diego Matamoros is manic but controlled as Davies, and Damian Atkins gives a touching performance as the underdog Aston.
Matthew Edison steals the show though in his portrayal of Mick. You look at him and you wonder what he is plotting, as if something sinister is about to happen.
Albert Schultz has directed the piece well, using the newly configured space as a "theatre in the round", and even though Lorenzo Savoini's set pieces take up most of the space (but in a good way), Schultz still makes use of the space he has.
This play will not be everyones cup of tea. If you're looking for a nice night out at the theatre, this probably isn't the show for you to see. If you want a night of theatre that is different and will challenge you and make you think, then you should take a chance on The Caretaker.
The Caretaker
By Harold Pinter
Directed by Albert Schultz, Presented By Soulpepper Theatre
Starring Diego Matamoros, Damian Atkins and Matthew Edison
Now playing at the Young Centre For The Performing Arts until November 25th.
For ticket and show information, click here.
**** (out of five)
